NL Wild Card Game Preview: Brewers vs Nationals

NL Wild Card Preview: Washington Nationals vs. Milwaukee Brewers

The Pitching Matchup

In a one-game playoff, a pitcher as dominant as Max Scherzer can be wielded like a weapon. While this is a veritable fact, Scherzer has not been the same pitcher since returning from the back injury that held him on the sidelines for about a month. Mind you, he has not been particularly bad, simply not dominant.

It also should be noted that the Nats ace has been more than anything been focusing on rounding into form. At first, he was only going four innings per start but has now worked it up to six innings  on a consistent basis. It is more than likely that Scherzer will not have any restrictions with the Nationals’ season hanging in the balance.

The other side of this matchup will likely not see much length from their rotation. Brandon Woodruff suffered an injury in July and only returned in mid-September. Since his activation, he has posted two outings of 2 hitless innings- two per outing.

While he looked to be in form in each of those innings, he cannot realistically be expected to provide any length. It will likely be a three to four-inning outing with the bullpen- or perhaps another starter- picking up where Woodruff leaves off. A candidate to do this would be Drew Pomeranz– a starter turned reliever- or Jordan Lyles, who has been a productive addition to the Brewers rotation.

The presence of Scherzer’s struggles makes this game more competitive, considering the loss of Yelich on the side of the Brewers. The gap also remains close because the rotational depth of the Brewers is so vast.

NL Wild Card Preview: Washington Nationals vs. Milwaukee Brewers

The Prediction

Although this game will likely be close it should be determined by the team that gets the most out of the starter. It seems clear cut that the Nationals are primed to get more length out of Max Scherzer than can be expected out of any combination of Woodruff and Pommerenz or Lyles.

If Scherzer ends up being ineffective that is a different story altogether, but that cannot be relied upon.

The other discrepancy between the two lineups is that the Nationals have the two best hitters in the game. Rendon and Soto can wear down an opposing pitcher in the same way Yelich would have. Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas are exceptional hitters too- the Brewers probably have the more well-rounded of the two lineups. Without Yelich the top-heavy Nats lineup will make a difference in the one game nature of this playoff.

In essence, this game could be settled early on. If the Nats are able to build up an early lead it is very possible that they would not cede it. Picture this: Scherzer for seven to Daniel Hudson and finally to Sean Doolittle. It seems to be a daunting task for the Brewers.

NL Wild Card final prediction: 4-2, Washington Nationals win.